Everyone’s talking about Alice Guo. Her sudden rise to become the mayor of a province in the Philippines has sparked a whirlwind of speculation and controversy. People whisper about her being a CCP spy, point to her alleged connections with POGOs, and wonder why no one really knew her until she became mayor, allegedly, out of the blue.
To be honest, I’m torn. There are things about her that make you wonder. The Senate and her accusers have points that can’t be dismissed outright. But they carry the burden of proof. They need to show us solid evidence because, without it, these are just accusations hanging in the air.
Not Just About Tikoy And Hopia
What breaks my heart, though, is how this whole fiasco is damaging the Filipino-Chinese community and, more broadly, fanning the flames of Sinophobia. This is not just wrong; it’s tragic.
I might sound like I’m defending the Chinese, and maybe I am. I love Chinese food. I’ve always had a soft spot for East Asian ladies. I work for people of Filipino-Chinese heritage. But my appreciation runs deeper than these personal preferences. Here in the Philippines, I get to witness the colorful spectacle of Chinese New Year and other Chinese celebrations. I’ve fallen in love with traditional Chinese music, instruments, and entertainment. My CNY is about thanking God for the existence of these beautiful cultural expressions. As a Filipino, I find Chinese heritage profoundly beautiful.
But this isn’t just about the Chinese. It’s about all of us. I worry that this wave of suspicion and fear is undermining the beautiful diversity we share. The actions of a few shouldn’t cast a shadow over an entire community.
Chinese people, like everyone else, are not monolithic. They have families, dreams, aspirations. Their great grandparents left their homeland to find a better life here. Think about that for a moment. Our small archipelago, the Philippines, became their chosen home. Isn’t that incredible?
Filipino-Chinese Are Filipinos
The least we can do is welcome these individuals and affirm that they belong here. Many Filipino-Chinese proudly identify as Filipinos and want to be seen and treated as such. Yes, there might be issues of exclusivism within the community, but that’s a common trait in any group with shared ethnicity.
The contributions of the Filipino-Chinese community to our culture and lives are immense. I’m 100% Filipino and I love my heritage. But being Filipino also means embracing the wonderful things that other cultures bring. The problem is not with Chinese people or their heritage. It lies with specific individuals and political systems. We need to make this distinction.
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
Disclosure: Written with the help of AI.